The objective of the study was analysis of hair trace elements content in children with goiter living in Aktubinsk region. Children with goiter and age- and sex-adjusted controls were involved in the current study. Hair trace elements content was assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Thyroid volume was measured using an ultrasound scanner and compared to the previously calculated normal values. The obtained data indicate that children with goiter were characterized by 20 and 15 % lower values of hair Cr and Zn, and 66, 42, 16, and 42 % higher hair levels of I, Mn, Si, and V as compared to the control values, respectively. Moreover, children with goiter were characterized by a twofold higher hair B levels than the control ones. Correlation analysis demonstrated a significant direct association only between thyroid volume and hair B (r = 0.482; p = 0.004), I (r = 0.393; p = 0.021), Mn (r = 0.364; p = 0.034), and Si (r = 0.446; p = 0.008) levels. It is also notable that hair I content was interrelated only with Si (r = 0.346; p = 0.045). No significant correlation was detected between I and B (r = 0.250; p = 0.155) and Mn (r = 0.076; p = 0.669) in hair of children. It is hypothesized that an increase in thyroid volume in children is associated with a complex interplay of iodine with other trace elements rather than with altered iodine status itself.

BACKGROUND: Research competence is one of the important competencies of a medical teacher. AIM: The aim of study was to evaluate the research competencies teachers (n = 90) by online questionnaires. METHODS: The questionnaire assessed transferable research skills, research-specific skills (research design, data collection, and analysis), research experience, attitude, and motivation to conduct research. RESULTS: About 55% of respondents are fully aware of the research activities at their university. Higher rates in transferred skills were established: Teamwork (average score 8/10: 55.5%), and ability to collect information (average score 8/10: 47.9%). Low general skills (project management and time management) are 15.6% and 12.2% of the teachers surveyed. Low indicators of specific research skills of biostatistics (average score 1/4–18.9%) and article submission (average score 1/4–13.2%) were revealed. Competence of male teachers is higher than that of women in their transmitted information collection skills (Z = 2.6, p = 0.008), evaluation of information (Z = 2.4, p = 0.015), and problem solving (Z = 2.3, p = 0.02). Specific research skills did not depend on the gender and affiliation to the department. Most teachers understood the term “research” as “the process of obtaining new knowledge,” and “experimenting and/or testing hypotheses.” Skills require improvement: Biostatistics skills, design definition, preparation of abstracts, and articles. Most respondents showed high motivation (71.1%) to conduct research. CONCLUSION: The research competencies of university teachers’ need to be improved. It is necessary to focus on the integration of special research skills in programs on all levels of education.

AIM: To evaluate iodine status in the population of Western Kazakhstan on the example of the Aktobe region according to data of urinary iodine concentrations. There were examined 2257 children aged from 7 to 12 years. Urinary iodine was carried out in 10% of schoolchildren by semiquantitative method under field conditions. According to the 30-cluster survey the prevalence of goiter in the region amounted to 42.71 ± 1,04%. The proportion of children with optimal urinary iodine concentrations is only 12.8%, more than 300 mcg/l - 57.82% of the children, more than 400 mcg/l was determined in 25.12% of the children. The high prevalence of goiter against the background of high rates of urinary iodine suggests the impact of other goitrogenic factors in the region.

Оригинальные работы Цель исследования: оценить объем щитовидной железы, определенный с помощью УЗИ, у школьников в возрасте от 7 до 11 лет, проживающих в нефтегазоносных районах Западного региона Республики Казахстан. Материал и методы. В период с мая по декабрь 2013 г. было проведено поперечное исследование на школьниках Западного региона Республики Казахстан. В общей сложности 815 школьников 7-11 летнего возраста, которые отвечали критериям исследования, были включены в исследование. Антропометрические показатели измерялись перед УЗИ, затем эксперт радиолог проводил измерение тиреоидного объема с помощью портативного ультразвукового аппарата по рекомендациям ВОЗ. Йодурия была проверена у 10% школьников, выбранных случайным образом.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the training module with a simulator of cardiology improves auscultation skills in medical students. Methods. Medical students of the third year after completing the module of the cardiovascular system of the discipline “Propaedeutics of internal diseases, passed a two-hour or four-hour training module in clinical auscultation with retesting immediately after the intervention and in the fourth year. The control group consisted of fourth-year medical students who had no intervention. Results. The diagnostic accuracy in two-hour training was 45.9% vs 35.3% in four-hour training p <.001. The use of a cardio simulator significantly increased the accurate detection of mitral regurgitation immediately after training on a simulator (more than 73%) p <.001. The next academic year, regression was observed in the diagnostic accuracy of mitral insufficiency in the intervention group after six months of observation by 4%. The auscultation skills of students at the bedside of real patients did not increase after training on a simulator: the accuracy of diagnosis of the auscultatory picture of the defect was equally low in the intervention group and the control group (35.0% vs 30.8%, p = 0.651). Conclusions. Two-hour training was more effective than four-hour training. After training on cardiac auscultation using a patient’s cardiological simulator, the accuracy rate was low in a situation close to the clinical conditions and a clinic on a real patient.